The predictable Olympic post

Despite living in London, and having previous lived very close to the Olympic site (in Bow) I didn't apply for tickets for anything. A few days in I'm fairly glad I didn't because in attempting to watch the mens gymnastic last night Kit was whining so much that he wanted to watch Toy Story, that I offered him the choice of watching the Olympics with me or bed. He chose bed. At 6.20pm. It seems I've saved myself sitting in an Olympic stadium with a grumbling pre-schooler.

We have tried to get into the Olympic spirit. I was lucky enough to be able to watch the flame go down the river from the window at my work on Friday.

And then after work I picked Kit up from the childminder and we headed into Bromley, to meet some friends, with the intention of watching the opening ceremony on the big screen at Queens Mead Rec. The Bromley churches had organise a great family event to help the community join together to watch the ceremony. Kit enjoyed making a medal, bouncing on more than one bouncy castle and free cake and ice-cream. Despite the excitement and the sugar boost, he didn't make it to stay awake to see anything past the flyover.

We went home and I enjoyed the rest in the warmth and dry. And we attempted some more Olympic spirit making a torch in the Glades shopping centre over the weekend.

I have plans to try to inspire the Olympic legacy into Kit at the swimming pool later in the week. I'll admit I'm a bit fearful of letting him watch any running in case he learns any more tricks, I already struggle to catch him. Maybe in 12 years time I'll have the next Usain Bolt.



National Trust: Knole

I took the plunge and joined the National Trust back when we visted Red House for Easter. We'd not managed to make it to anywhere else since, and really wanted to make the most of the membership, so we've started a bit of touring with my parents (who are long-standing members!).

We started a few weeks ago with Knole in Sevenoaks, not far from me. The Sevenoaks area has a lot to see and is only about a half hour drive from me and Kit so expect a lot from that area.

I have Tuesdays and Thursdays off work, and we are often busy at the weekends so we headed to Knole on a Tuesday. That meant that we could only look around the gardens as the house wasn't open, but that was plenty to keep us entertained. I think it was enough to just see deer up close. And they had some great vegetable patches that I was very jealous of (our allotment is not in a good way). We're planning to go back again soon, there is so much ground, it would be a lovely place for walking and picnicing.

The cafe was open. First of many National Trust cream teas.

Silent Sunday

How One product could change the effect of your shopping

I hate grocery shopping. I used to love it when I was child-free, I could potter around for ages looking at new products etc. Now, once the novelty of helping carry the basket has worn off and Kit's grumbles of 'I'm hungry' (see food, need to eat food) starts to kick in I wish there wasn't choice. To avoid wasting time I now always stick to the same products every shop. I only buy one brand of any given item. No more label-reading.

I'd been missing out though. My staple brands have always been picked as to what I think is the most ethical and the healthiest for Kit. Now I've found one of the most fantastically ethical brand I've encountered. One that uses their profits to ensure that the products you buy pay for others to benefit from the same product you are paying for.

You see we were sent some One Careplast Plasters. I was inspired. The plasters were designed by school-children and the profits go to fund ambulance bicycles and medical boxes in Africa. I haven't done a 'proper' review because, thankfully we haven't needed to use them yet, but I will post one when we do.

Once I'd received the plasters though, I began to notice all the other 'One' products on the market. And whilst I know I've bought their water and their eggs before, I don't think I've ever looked properly at the labels and realised that they too fund projects in Africa.

So now I've been looking for One products, and thankfully our local Co-op stocks a few of them so we're using their toilet roll, bread, eggs and water. And when the time comes, we'll be using their plasters too.